UPPER Eden Rugby Club clinched promotion from the Cumbria League on Saturday with a 29-17 play-off victory over Didsbury To H in Manchester.

The men from Kirkby Stephen are now promoted with Windermere to the North Lancs/Cumbria league where they will play the likes of Carlisle.

Saturday's play-off was keenly but cleanly contested and Upper Eden scored three tries to Didsbury's two. Ultimately, the outcome hinged on the impressive goal-kicking of Rick Heron and the superior power of the Upper Eden forwards.

Two coachloads of Upper Eden supporters travelled south to the match, outnumbering the home support, and prompting the Upper Eden players to comment that it was "like playing at home."

However, it was Didsbury that took the initiative. The home side's lively back line was well orchestrated by their inventive fly-half and they got the ball wide very quickly, scoring both their tries in the first half. Fortunately, Heron was in great form and kept Upper Eden in the game with two penalties, limiting the score at a 12-6 deficit at half-time.

Heron then dropped a goal at the start of the second half and Upper Eden brought on replacements Jimmy Thompson and Ian Gowing whose added presence really made a difference. Heron kicked another penalty to level the score and then Didsbury pulled down a driving maul, giving heron the chance to kick his side into the lead.

Against the run of play, Didsbury cleverly switched the action to create an overlap and finished off with a try in the corner. But that was the end of their scoring. Upper Eden began to control the gamem and a driving maul took Upper Eden close to the line where, after two individual attempts to cross the line had been held, Jimmy Thompson wormed' his way under the posts and Heron added the conversion.

In desperation, Didsbury tried running the ball from just outside their own line, lost possession and Upper Eden right-wing Mark Shuttleworth touched down for Heron to seal victory with another successful conversion.

l On Friday, May 9, it will be Upper Eden 2nds in the limelight when they take on Windermere 2nds in the Westmorland Shield final at Pennine Park.

April 30, 2003 11:00